Well, I thought I had one little project but when Jimmy showed up with his crew he found LOTS of STUFF to do!

Before I could blink they were all over the place….

Eeeeeeks!

I think we’re varnishing the beam. Didn’t know it needed it….However, all the railings and doors did.

The last fellow made such a mess of the Bamboo that we had to start all over…..

I’m so happy with the beautiful blue pots on the patio and the fruit trees that are now in them!

The piece de resistance was getting a new deck after the last fellow had destroyed the old one.

O.K., let’s party on Garth. Time for Nikka’s birthday. She has one more present coming on September 17th.

If these two aren’t the ‘made in heaven’ couple I don’t know who is. Herm and Lulu celebrating their second wedding anniversary. They are so cute together!

Let’s hear it for the cake!!!

Even better, lets here it for the Champagne!

I guess Kita was really distraught she wasn’t invited to the party so she left me a message loud and clear. 'Leave me and I’m goin’ for the money!'

But wait…there’s one more birthday. Melissa, Sandie Girl’s amazing daughter-in-law and awesome mom to Jacob and Noah. Sandie and Jacob made this adorable cake & beach scene.

Happy, happy Birthday Melissa!

Adorable Noah and Jacob AKA Jakey!

These shrimp Sandie made were so incredibly good I went straight to Bristol Farms to get some.

What’s going on? Why a Hatch Chile celebration straight from New Mexico….that’s what! The season is short so one must have all things Hatch when it arrives.

So it’s true….summer is over ‘cause Memorial Day not only heralds fall but on the plus side….grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon, bacon, bacon!

With beautiful watermelon.

Now this was one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever encountered. I was in my car and as I drove, tried to capture what I saw but the image was in reverse. Actually the sun was a red ball of fire. ‘Goodness, gracious, red balls of fire!’ I’ve never seen that before. Have you?

No matter how I tried, I couldn’t capture the total redness. It just kept turning gold.

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.

Welcome! Here we'll be talking about Brush Painting and living joyfully! My website (nanrae.com) has complete examples of my work. I have been an artist since childhood. I have introduced and taught thousands Chinese Brush Painting in my Studio, the Huntington Library, Otis and other locations. My work is reproduced on Greeting Cards in the USA and all over Europe and Australia by Ling Design in England. It is wonderful being able to do the thing you love and to share it with others.